José Mourinho in mischief mode over Mesut Özil move

Özil set up two goals and scored another during Arsenal’s 5-0 win over HuddersfieldPhil Shephard-Lewis/The Times

José Mourinho has risked upsetting Arsène Wenger on the day of Manchester United’s meeting with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium by refusing to rule out a move for Mesut Özil.

Asked whether he would consider signing Özil next summer, Mourinho replied: “No comment,” while wearing a big grin that lasted for a number of seconds. That is sure to annoy Wenger, the Arsenal manager with whom Mourinho has had a combustible relationship throughout his career.

Four years ago, when Mourinho was managing Özil at Real Madrid, the Portuguese described the German as “the best No 10 in the world”. The United manager has been linked with a move for the 29-year-old, who is a free agent at the end of the season.